CLEVELAND — LeBron James said he is going to play in the season finale Wednesday against the New York Knicks Authentic Rasmus Dahlin Jersey , which means for the first time in his career he will appear in all 82 regular-season games.

As for the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers, well, that’s up to coach Tyronn Lue.

The Cavs (50-31) who host the Knicks after beating them on Monday 123-109, are playing for a shot at third place in the East.

The Philadelphia 76ers won their 15th straight game by beating Atlanta on Tuesday, and the Sixers hold a one-game lead over the Cavs for third in the East. For the Cavs to nab the No. 3 seed heading into the playoffs, they need to beat the Knicks while the Milwaukee Bucks beat Philadelphia.

If that happens, the 76ers and Cavs would finish with the same record, but Cleveland holds the tiebreaker against Philadelphia.

What Lue must decide is whether he wants to play all of his rotation players together for the first time this season, on the last day he can before the playoffs start, or just make sure the team is as healthy as it can be.

If the Cavs finish fourth, which is where they sit now, they would host Indiana in a first-round series for a second consecutive season.

“I think the most important thing is just making sure everyone is healthy,” Lue said. “I know guys are trying to be tough and tough it out but that’s not smart right now. We’ve got to be smart going into the playoffs, make sure we’re as close to 100 percent healthy as we can be.”

Then again http://www.vikingsauthorizedshops.com/au...ght-jersey , as long as James is playing, the Cavs have a chance in any game. James, 33, declared he would play in the finale because he is “healthy.” Not only will he play in all 82 for the first time in his storied career, but he will lead the NBA in total points for the first time, too.

With Monday’s win, James became the first player in NBA history to be on a team that won its division in 10 consecutive seasons. The Cavs clinched the Central Division by beating the Knicks.

“Throughout a long season if you’re able to accomplish feats, no matter what’s going on, you should always try to appreciate it, try to take time,” said James, who scored 26 points with 11 assists Monday. “I’m kind of like been a hypocrite of that because I’m always moving and trying to figure how we can be better the next day or whatever the case (might) be. So, it’s always hard for me to be like, ‘OK Ozzie Albies Atlanta Braves Jersey , another division crown.’ Even after all that’s gone on with our team and our ballclub this year, but it’s a pretty cool thing.”

James tied the Cavs’ franchise season record for double doubles (52 — Brad Daugherty), and can set the record Wednesday. Also, don’t get any ideas about James playing only a few minutes Wednesday to say he appeared in his 82nd game — he has his NBA record of 872 consecutive games with at least 10 points to protect.

As previously mentioned, the Cavs have yet to play a game with their current, full complement of players. If Rodney Hood returns from a sore Achilles and George Hill, Kyle Korver, and Jose Calderon are all allowed to play (they all suited up against the Knicks but continue to nurse minor injuries), Wednesday would be a first.

The best thing the Knicks have going for them now is rookie Frank Ntilikina, who scored a career-high 17 points to go with six rebounds and five assists Monday. Before Monday’s game, James said Ntilikina was “a very cerebral basketball player.

“I think defensively he’s more advanced than offensively but I think he’s getting better and better offensively as he’s gotten more opportunity and played more games.”

Ntilikina told the New York Post: “I’m thankful for (James’ words) coming from the top player in this league.”

“As a kid, I didn’t know I’d be here and able to compete against these guys,” said Ntilikina, who was drafted eighth overall last June.

New York (28-53) has lost six of its last seven and is tied with Brooklyn for the eighth-worst record (remember Authentic Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , the Cavs own the Nets’ first-round pick). The Knicks have lost 50 or more games four years in a row and haven’t been to the playoffs since 2013.

This could be coach Jeff Hornacek’s last game with the Knicks. New team president Steve Mills may want to hire his own coach; Hornacek was hired by Phil Jackson. Hornacek is 59-104 in two seasons in New York.

“Our guys didn’t quit,” Hornacek said, according to the Post. “I don’t think we’re that far off.”
The Oakland Athletics leaned on pitching, defense and Jed Lorie’s clutch hitting to overcome their lack of a long ball.

Lowrie hit an RBI double in the fourth inning and Chris Bassitt pitched six innings to help Oakland beat the Detroit Tigers 3-0 on Wednesday night.

The A’s did not clear the fences, ending their major league-record streak at 27 road games.

”We put home run swings on them,” manager Bob Melvin said. ”We just didn’t get rewarded for them.”

Detroit’s JaCoby Jones leaped to catch a ball Matt Olson sent over the wall in left in the second inning and Leonys Martin made a pair of catches deep in center field with his back to the plate.

”Anywhere else those are home runs,” Melvin said.

Lowrie did his part at the plate again with a game-winning RBI for the third straight game. He drove in a tiebreaking run in the top of the ninth inning the previous two wins against the Tigers.

”In games when they were close and you need a big at-bat, he’s been giving it to us all year,” Melvin said. ”After a little bit of struggle to be able to do it the way he has on this trip has been borderline spectacular.”

Bassitt (1-3) gave up two hits and five walks while striking out five. He had lost nine straight since his last win in the majors in 2015.

The right-hander expected to have control problems after being in multiple states in recent days.

”I’m just racking up the frequent flier miles,” Bassitt said.

Yusmeiro Petit entered in the seventh for his first of two innings and Jose Iglesias, the first to face the reliever, hit an infield single his stolen base was over turned by video review. Lou Trivino pitched the ninth for his second save in three chances, sealing the shutout.

Mike Fiers (5-5) allowed a run on five hits and one walk over seven innings as Detroit lost its eighth straight game.

”This happens with young guys,” Tigers bench coach Steve Liddle said. ”The team starts to struggle and they start trying to do too much. A lot of our guys are new to the majors either this year or last year.”

Joe Jimenez kept Detroit within a run in the eighth before the A’s gave themselves a bigger cushion against Alex Wilson. Josh Phegley and Dustin Fowler hit RBI doubles in the ninth off Wilson Authentic Customized Texans Jerseys , putting Oakland ahead 3-0.

OUT OF HERE

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected after the third inning for arguing with home plate umpire Lance Barksdale.

Athletics: RHP Trevor Cahill, on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right Achilles tendon is scheduled for another bullpen Friday.

ROSTER MOVE

The A’s put RHP Daniel Mengden on the 10-day DL, retroactive to June 25, with a sprained right foot and recalled Bassitt from Triple-A Nashville. Mengden (6-6) has started 16 games, tying LHP Sean Manaea for the team lead.

UP NEXT

Manaea (7-6) will be pitching to help his team sweep the four-game series while Detroit counters with RHP Michael Fulmer (3-6).